Egalitarianism in Retired Rural Couples: Household Tasks, Decision Making, and Leisure Activities

This study investigated conjugal role organization in retired rural couples. Three major aspects of the conjugal relationship were examined: division of household tasks, decision-making patterns, and leisure activities shared by the couple. Interviews were conducted with 149 couples who participated in the retirement substudy of an 8-year epidemiological investigation of two rural counties in Iowa. Results showed that rural couples: (a) exhibited a traditional, gender-differentiated division of household tasks, but that household role segregation decreased significantly after retirement; (b) made a majority of decisions jointly during retirement, with joint decision making increasing significantly after retirement; (c) participated in a large number of joint leisure activities during retirement.